Fil-Am Snapchat cofounder donates $5M to LA pandemic aid

LOS ANGELES — Bobby Murphy, the Filipino American cofounder of Snapchat, and his wife, Kelsey Bateman, donated $5 million to the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles for another 20,000 “Angeleno Cards” to be given to people who have been financially hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

The debit card provides cash assistance to some of the lowest-income Los Angeles residents hit hard by the pandemic. Grants are given in the amounts of $700, $1,100 or $1,500, depending on income and household size.

The Angeleno Cards had ran out quickly, according to Garcetti, but the Murphys’ donation will increase the number of cards for people who have been affected financially by the pandemic to 60,000.

Murphy’s Philippine-born mother is Rosie L. Go-Murphy.

Others who also wish to donate to help more Angelenos may do so through the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles.